Eglin Energy Conservation Projects promise big savings

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Eglin Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin Air Force Base and Gulf Power will continue their partnership to conserve energy through the implementation of a series of Energy Conservation Projects throughout the base over the next 10 months.

As part of a Utility Energy Services Contract, seven ECPs should result in an estimated energy savings of more than $450,000 annually. These savings will help pay the implementation costs of the projects over a 13-year span while saving 7,137,161 kilowatt hours a year, which is enough energy to power approximately 649 homes for a full year.

Alan Mardis, Eglin's Energy Manager, expects to see immediate savings as the projects are completed, starting with lighting retrofits in 79 facilities next month. Other projects in the UESC lineup include Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning system replacements, infrared heating and solar water heating. Gulf Power has hired Chevron Energy Solutions to take on the task of implementing ECPs on Eglin.

"These projects should improve working conditions in some areas, and they'll save energy and be easier to maintain," Mr. Mardis said.

At an Eglin facility manager town hall meeting last week, Col. Dennis Yates, 96th Civil Engineer Group commander, stressed the importance of energy conservation and how easy it is for everyone to contribute. The meeting also served as an introduction of Scott Pogue, a Resource Efficiency Manager hired by Air Force Materiel Command to assist in reducing in the cost of energy, water, natural gas, fuel oil, refuses disposal, and all other utilities and energy/water-related operations on Eglin. Mr. Pogue shared his plan to help Mr. Mardis with energy conservation efforts on Eglin. He also advised the facility managers about what's ahead.

"We have to really push conservation, we have to have efficient equipment and practices and we have to be smart in how we buy energy," Mr. Pogue said to the dozens of facility managers in attendance. "We ask that you be accommodating to the contractors when they come around to do these projects, we can't do it without your help."

Mr. Mardis added that the contractors will make every effort to minimize the impact on occupants through duration of the projects.

"We'll coordinate and keep everyone in the loop," Mr. Mardis said. "Communication and cooperation will be key aspects of this effort."

Mr. Mardis also plans to give periodic project construction updates.